Who: Attorney General Hardy Myers, the Governor's Commission on Senior Services, the Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities, members of the Oregon Health Care Association.

What: "Safety for Seniors and People with Disabilities Day" -- proclaimed
by Governor Ted Kulongoski to call awareness to the problem of abuse of older adults and people with disabilities. The event also marks the beginning of an annual recognition in Oregon of "Everyday Heroes," where individual acts of heroism to intervene to prevent or stop abuse are noted. The Governor's Commission on Senior Services created the project to encourage members of the public to be aware, observant, and take action when abuse is suspected.

When: A brief ceremony will be held Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 9:30 a.m.

Where: Salem Red Lion Hotel, 3301 Market Street, NE.

Last year in Oregon, more than 8,300 cases of potential abuse against Oregon's senior citizens and those with disabilities were reported, with many more instances of abuse going unreported.

"As Oregon's population continues to age, there is the threat of an increase in abuse," said John Helm, chair of the senior services commission. "It's our duty as citizens to prevent abuse, we have the power to do it, and that's why we're recognizing these heroes as a way of making sure that seniors and people with disabilities are safe."